FAA Form 8130-3 -vs- Certificate of Conformity

What is the difference between an FAA Form 8130-3 and a Certificate of Conformity?

ANSWER: An FAA Form 8130-3, Airworthiness Approval Form, identifies an article or group of articles for export approval and conformity determination from production approval holders.

It also serves as approval for return to service after maintenance or alteration by an authorized FAR 145 Repair Station, or a U.S. Air Carrier having an approved Continuous Airworthiness Maintenance Program.

A Certificate of Conformity or statement of conformity provides evidence that a part was produced by a manufacturer holding an FAA-approved manufacturing process.

Both attest to an articles conformity but the FAA Form 8130-3 can be used for multiple purposes.